chainsaw recommendations

[lew61]

I've been reminded once again why I come back to this forum. Thanks to one and all for your input. Much appreciate your time and thoughts.:thumbsup::wave:

 

[nspec]

My bad. I thought my stihl was the 4-mix because it doesn't rev up as fast as my husky. Like I said though, it's deceiving. The power is there, just doesn't seem like it should be, because it sounds like it runs so much slower. It's much more refined feeling than my husky - it 'feels' like a much nicer saw, but man is it heavy. For that reason alone I like my husky better.

 

[dieselcrawler]

I have 2 stihl 025's that have cut countless loads of wood... and a nice light newer ms170. Great saws... my dad had an 031 he bought in '77. Used it for years untill the carb wore out. New carb cost enough that he bought one of the 025's I have now In about 2001. Got 2 stihl weedeaters too...

 

[TomSeller]

I have to admit that I will never own another brand beside Stihl. I do, however, think the Husky and Jonsered brands are very good in general. Like tractors, the dealerships are important.

 

[coobie]

Here's my dilemma: My Stihl 031 that I bought new in 1978 finally bit the dust after many years of noble service. It was one heck of a rugged saw. So, I'm looking for a replacement and have been perusing websites and a couple of local dealers. What I've found fills me with unease. The current stock seems much less robust - lots of plastic, and I've heard grumbles about poor customer service, specifically regarding Husqvarna. So, what to do?

My choice is Echo saws.I have two that start easy and run well.My stihl saws started to hard and they come with the PIA filler caps.

 

[94BULLITT]

If you are going to use it a lot and want a professional saw like your 031 was I would look at a 261 or 362. Like LD1 said the pro saw are lighter and more powerful. If you are not going to use the saw a lot you could look at a MS290. From what I have heard on arborist site the 290 will last a long time. I think it is Stihls best selling saw. I have heard the occasional use saws are for use a few times a year, the farm and ranch saws are for a few times a month and the pro saws are for everday use.

 

[crazyal]

The 4-mix are valved 4stroke engines running an oil/gas mix so they don't need crankcase oil. This saves weight and they are mostly on the Stihl trimmer line. Some of the newer Sthil chainsaws are strato saws and are still 2stroke. The strato technology allows the saw to take a "gulp" of fresh air between the strokes to better separate the exhaust air from the fueled air. Bad explanation, I know.

Strato Animation 460 XTORQ - YouTube

Seams like a backwards way of doing things. What's the point of a 4 stroke if you are burning oil? The small Honda engines use crankcase oil but once the engine starts the oil vaporizes so the engine can run at any angle and still get lubricated. My string trimmer has a Honda 35cc 4 stroke engine and runs great. They even use the Hondas in remote control planes that fly upside down.

 

[94BULLITT]

Seams like a backwards way of doing things. What's the point of a 4 stroke if you are burning oil? The small Honda engines use crankcase oil but once the engine starts the oil vaporizes so the engine can run at any angle and still get lubricated. My string trimmer has a Honda 35cc 4 stroke engine and runs great. They even use the Hondas in remote control planes that fly upside down.

I used a Honda powered trimmer a few times. It had great torque. The down side is they have a timing belt that needs replaced like every 100hrs.

The 4mix technology that Stihl uses goes back to the 30's. They used it in Airplanes. Stihl has refined it more.

 

[TomSeller]

Seams like a backwards way of doing things. What's the point of a 4 stroke if you are burning oil? .

Probably to save the weight of the oil plus the weight of the extra casing to hold the oil. But Still would have to answer this question.

 

[94BULLITT]

I think Stihl wants their customers to be able to use 1 gas can to fill up all of their equipment. Some people would get consfused on what to took gas and what took 2 cycle mix.